MADRID, July 18 (Reuters) - Real Madrid have apologised for a blunder that made a profile of Ruud van Nistelrooy appear briefly on their website as if the Manchester United striker had signed for the club.

The Primera Liga side blamed the gaffe to a computer error
but it fuelled speculation that the 30-year-old Dutch striker
has already agreed to move to Spain.

'The club would like to clarify that Realmadrid.com compile
different reports, news stories and profiles of players that
might join the club, including one on the Dutchman but they are
merely for internal use,' Real said in a statement.

'This profile appeared on the club website for a few minutes
because of a computer error, but such pieces are normally only
published after the official announcement of a deal between the
two clubs.

'Real would like to apologise for any misunderstanding
caused by the error.'

Spanish media have reported that Van Nistelrooy will sign a
three-year deal with Real for a fee of around £10million, but Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson
said on Tuesday that his club would not be selling the player
cheaply.

Van Nistelrooy joined United for a then British record of £19million in 2001.